Self regulating, fuel efficient, fireplace insert logset, using round cans of alcohol gel fuel to produce a semi-rectangular fireplace fire

ABSTRACT

A fireplace insert consisting of a logset which simulates the appearance of a series of logs and twigs but which may be cast as a unitary item. The logset has a cavity that holds two or more round cans of alcohol gel fuel. The invention includes a vapor restrictor plate that sits over the open cans of fuel. The vapor restrictor plate completely covers the metal tops of the cans, thereby hiding same. The vapor restrictor plate has one aperture for each can of fuel that it sits over. The width of the apertures in the vapor restrictor plate is approximately the same as the width of the top openings of the cans of fuel. The depth of the apertures in the vapor restrictor plate is smaller than the depth of the top openings of the cans of fuel. The vapor restrictor plate restricts the flow of alcohol vapors out of the fuel cans and the flow of oxygen into the cans, thereby regulating the height, depth and burn time of the flames produced when the fuel is ignited without the use of manually operated control knobs or adjustment mechanisms. The vapor restrictor plate also reshapes the fires coming out of the cans from a circular shape into a semi-rectangular shape. Flame overlap from aperture to aperture in the vapor restrictor plate produces an over-all fire pattern that is semi-rectangular in shape, similar to traditional fireplace fires that are also semi-rectangular in shape. All of the flames produced by burning fuel are visible to the eye. No fuel is wasted by burning same to produce flames that are hidden underneath fake logs.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention is for a fireplace insert consisting of a logset which simulates the appearance of a series of logs and twigs and which has a cavity that holds round cans of alcohol gel fuel as well as a vapor restrictor plate that partially covers the top openings of the cans, thereby self regulating the height, depth and burn time of the flames produced when the fuel is ignited without the use of manually operated control knobs or adjustment mechanisms and producing a realistic looking semi-rectangular fireplace fire that is fuel efficient and does not require supplemental illumination from electric light bulbs.

2. Background

Fireplaces that burn alcohol gel fuel in round cans have been popular for a number of years. Although such fireplaces do not produce large amounts of heat, they have a pleasing visual effect. To many consumers, the visual effect is the key.

An example of such a fireplace is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,905, to Meyers. Myers refers to the cans of alcohol gel fuel as “standard one-pint size” cans. (Column 5, line 17.) As the illustrations in Myers' patent indicate, the fuel cans are round. Currently, such cans are sold under tradenames like “Realflame”.

After the lid of the round can is removed alcohol vapors rise from the top of the can. These vapors mix with ambient oxygen and may be ignited with a match. This produces a round fire coming from a round can.

Manufacturers of alcohol gel used in fireplaces use round cans for a variety of reasons. For example, round cans are relatively plentiful on the market. Most can manufacturers make many types of round cans.

Real fireplace fires, however, are not round. That is because real fireplaces are wider than they are deep, i.e., rectangular. The logs placed in real fireplaces are also generally rectangular. Even the gas burners used in most gas fireplaces are generally rectangular.

For these reasons, fireplaces that use round cans of alcohol gel fuel present several problems. Some cannot produce rectangular fires at all. Others require the use of a rectangular holding box, holding the round cans, in an attempt to reshape the round fires into a rectangular fire. Some others use manually adjusted lids, sitting over the rectangular holding box, as a means of adjusting the height, depth and burn time of the fire coming from the round cans.

Some other fireplaces using round cans of fuel present other problems. For example, some require supplemental illumination from electric light bulbs. Others waste the fuel in the cans, by burning fuel that produces flames which are partially hidden. Since the visual effect of the flames is the key, burning fuel to produce flames that are hidden is wasteful.

And lastly, some fireplaces using round cans of fuel are fake looking, since the cans are plainly visible to the consumer, while others are complex mechanisms, requiring the use of over 150 components.

There is a need, therefore, for a simple apparatus, with few components, that solves these problems. The current invention does this by:

-   -   (1) providing a vapor restrictor plate which self-regulates the         height, depth and burn time of the flames without the use of         manually operated control knobs or adjustment mechanisms,     -   (2) providing a semi-rectangular fire, as opposed to a series of         separate, individual round fires coming from round cans,     -   (3) hiding the fuel cans from view,     -   (4) providing a very simple mechanism with few components to         maintain,     -   (5) providing an apparatus that does not waste fuel by burning         same to produce flames that are partially hidden, and     -   (6) providing an apparatus that does not require the use of         electric light bulbs.         Disadvantages of the Prior Art

The prior art has not solved the problems listed above.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,905, to Meyers, describes a complicated alcohol gel fireplace that has over 190 features but still requires an electric light bulb to supplement the illumination provided by the burning alcohol gel fuel. In addition, this patent does not include a vapor restrictor plate that restricts the flow of alcohol vapors out of the top of the fuel cans to produce a rectangular fire. Moreover, the cans inside Myer's fireplace are clearly visible, as his FIG. 1 shows. This creates a fake looking appearance.

Many of these problems are also present in Myers' next attempt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,600, which still uses an electric light bulb to supplement the illumination provided by burning the fuel in the cans.

Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,781, to Fischer, has not solved the problems listed previously. Fischer's invention wastes fuel by hiding a part of the fire behind log 29 a in Fisher's FIG. 1. Moreover, Fischer's mechanism does not include a vapor restrictor plate that self regulates the height, depth and burn time of the flames. Instead, Fischer uses a manually adjustable damper lid which fits over a rectangular box that contains the fuel cans. See Fischer's Column 5, lines 5-6, and Column 6, lines 17-23.

Nor does Bertolas, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,514, describe the present invention. Instead of describing a fireplace insert Bertolas describes “a portable fire pit”. Nor does Bertolas provide a vapor restrictor plate that partially covers the top openings of the cans of fuel to restrict the flow of alcohol vapor out of the cans, and oxygen into the cans, so as to regulate the height, depth and burn time of the fire without manually operated control knobs or adjustment mechanisms. And, Bertolas'FIG. 2 shows a series of three separate round fires coming from three cans, as opposed to a semi-rectangular fireplace fire.

Likewise, Hilker, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,490, does not disclose the present invention. First, Hilker's fireplace system exposes the cans of fuel to view when one looks down into the system. This creates a fake looking appearance. Second, Hilker's system does not include a vapor restrictor plate that self regulates the flow of alcohol vapor from the can and the flow of oxygen into the can, so as to control the height, depth and burn time of the fire. And lastly, Hilker shows a series of three individual round fires coming from three cans, as opposed to a realistic looking semi-rectangular fire.

Other patents disclose mechanisms for burning fuel, in general, but they are also different from the present invention. For example, Maust, et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,113 B1, does not disclose an insert which is placed inside a fireplace and uses round cans of fuel. Instead, Maust discloses a freestanding hearth that uses pourable fuel which is poured into a tray. This is an entirely different system than the present invention.

Similarly, Orlov, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,271, does not disclose the present invention. First, Orlov does not show an invention that uses round cans of fuel. Second, Orlov wastes fuel by hiding some of the flames underneath his logs. Third, Orlov does not disclose a vapor restrictor plate that self regulates the flow of alcohol vapor out of the cans and the flow of oxygen into the cans. Instead, Orlov uses a manually adjusted control knob connected to a damper plate. Column 4, lines 6-9.

Nor do U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,993,430 to Forker, or 4,582,478 to Hilker, or 4,637,372, to Mogol, disclose the present system. All of these reveal burner systems that employ liquid fuel, such as “fuel oil” (see Forker's Abstract), as opposed to alcohol gel fuel in cans. Instead of burning fuel in cans, liquid fuel systems transport fuel in pipes and tubes to a burner. See, the pipe 22 in Hilker, and the tube 14 in Mogol. These liquid fuel systems therefore, do not disclose the present system.

Objects and Advantages

The objects and advantages of the fireplace insert invention described herein are:

-   -   (a) to use a vapor restrictor plate to self regulate the height,         depth and burn time of the fire produced by burning alcohol gel         fuel in round cans, as opposed to regulation by to manually         operated control knobs or adjustment mechanisms;     -   (b) to produce a realistic looking, generally rectangular,         fireplace fire, as opposed to a series of individual, round         fires coming from round cans;     -   (c) to hide the fuel cans from view;     -   (d) to produce a realistic fireplace effect without using         electric light bulbs;     -   (e) to be fuel efficient by only burning fuel that produces         flames that are visible.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a noncombustible logset that simulates the appearance of a series of logs and twigs, which logset has a cavity that holds round cans of alcohol gel fuel. The logset is placed inside a fireplace.

The apparatus includes a vapor restrictor plate which partially covers the top openings of the fuel cans, thereby self regulating the height, depth and burn time of the flames produced when the fuel is ignited without the use of manually operated control knobs or adjustment mechanisms.

The apparatus hides the cans of fuel from view and produces a realistic looking, semi-rectangular fireplace fire that is wider than it is deep, as opposed to a series of individual round fires coming from round cans.

The apparatus is simple. It has few components. It is easy to maintain. It also does not require the use of electric light bulbs.

The apparatus is fuel efficient. It does not burn fuel to produce flames that are hidden from view.

DRAWING—FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the logset with the vapor restrictor plate in its raised, open position.

FIG. 2 shows the logset with the vapor restrictor plate in its closed position.

FIG. 3 is a top view of three cans of alcohol gel fuel, with the lids for the cans removed, and the exposed alcohol gel fuel.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the vapor restrictor plate.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the vapor restrictor plate sitting over three round cans of alcohol gel fuel. The vapor restrictor plate covers the top metal portion of the cans but exposes the alcohol gel fuel.

FIG. 6 shows the overlapping fires from three cans of alcohol gel fuel melding into one another so as to form a generally rectangular flame pattern which is wider than it is deep.

DRAWINGS Reference Numerals

1 Invention

2 Logset

3 Vapor restrictor plate

4 Cavity in logset

4A Aperture in vapor restrictor plate

5 Hinges

6 Metal top of round can of alcohol gel fuel, with lid removed.

7 Alcohol gel

8 Overlapping flames

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4-6.

FIG. 3, representing the metal tops of three round cans of alcohol gel fuel, is not part of the invention, but is shown for illustrative purposes.

FIG. 1 shows a noncombustible fake logset 2 that gives the appearance of a series of logs, but which, in fact, may be cast as a unitary piece. The logset 2 has a cavity 4 which communicates with the atmosphere and accepts round cans of alcohol gel fuel (not shown).

FIG. 1 also shows the vapor restrictor plate 3 attached to the logset by hinges 5. The vapor restrictor plate 3 is shown in the up, or open, position.

FIG. 2 shows the logset 2 and the vapor restrictor plate 3 in its closed position.

FIG. 3 shows three metal tops of three round cans of alcohol gel fuel 6, after the lids of the cans (not shown) have been removed, thereby exposing the alcohol gel fuel 7.

Lines 101 and 102 in FIG. 3 represent the inside diameter of the tops of the cans of alcohol gel fuel, with the lids for the cans (not shown) removed.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the vapor restrictor plate 3 and its apertures 4A.

Line 103 in FIG. 4 represents the width of the aperture 4A. Line 104 in FIG. 4 represents the depth of the aperture 4A.

FIG. 5 shows the overlapping flames 8 that originate from the three apertures 4A but then meld into one another to form a semi-rectangular fire.

Operation

The invention operates by: (1) restricting the flow of alcohol vapors out of the cans of fuel, and (2) restricting the flow of ambient oxygen into the cans of fuel, thereby controlling the height, depth and burn time of the fire produced when the alcohol gel is ignited, without the use of manually operated control knobs or adjustment mechanisms, and producing a fire with a semi-rectangular shape. The invention also hides the metal tops of the fuel cans from view.

This is accomplished by the vapor restrictor plate 3, which: (1) completely covers the metal tops 6 of the cans of fuel, and (2) partially restricts vapor flow out of, and into, the cans.

Vapor restriction is achieved because the depth of the apertures in the vapor restrictor plate, as represented by Line 104 in FIG. 4, is smaller than the depth of the top opening of the round cans of fuel, represented by Line 102 in FIG. 3. Hence, the amount of alcohol vapor that can leave the can is restricted, as is the amount of oxygen which can enter the can and mix with alcohol fumes. This controls the size of the flame and reshapes it.

Reshaping is also accomplished because each aperture 4A is centered over each can of fuel and because the width of each aperture, represented by Line 103 in FIG. 4, is approximately the same as the width of the top opening of the round cans of fuel, represented by Line 101 in FIG. 3. This converts the shape of the exposed alcohol gel from a circular shape into a semi-rectangular shape whose width is greater than its depth.

As measurement 104 is made progressively smaller in relation to measurement 102, the flames from the cans of fuel will have less depth, less height, and will burn for longer periods of time. Experience indicates that depending on the type of alcohol gel, a good result may be obtained if measurement 3B varies from approximately 50%-70% of measurement 6B.

As can be seen in the figures, when measurement 104 is 50%-70% of measurement 102 the aperture 4A assumes a semi-rectangular shape. In addition, because the flame produced by the fuel in each can flutters and waves, the flames 8 will overlap from aperture 4A to aperture 4A, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The overlapping flames result in the production an over-all fire pattern that appears to have a semi-rectangular shape, as FIG. 6 shows.

Alternative Embodiments

Although the figures show the invention used with three cans of fuel, it can easily be imagined that any number of multiple cans, such as two or four, may be used to achieve the same result. Hence, the scope of the current invention should be determined by the concepts explained above and the appended claims, and their legal equivalents, rather than by the specific descriptions illustrated in the figures. 

1. A fireplace insert comprising: a noncombustible logset having a cartridge-receiving cavity which communicates with the atmosphere and which receives two or more round cans of alcohol gel fuel, a vapor restrictor plate having at least one aperture corresponding to each can of fuel, said vapor restrictor plate being disposed proximate to said cans of fuel so that said apertures allow the fuel in the cans to communicate with the atmosphere, a vapor restrictor plate whose apertures have the same width as the top openings on the cans of fuel, a vapor restrictor plate whose apertures have a depth that is smaller than the depth of the top openings on the cans of fuel. 